Cold conditions have returned to the national capital after rainfall lashed parts of Delhi-NCR on Friday, January 23, bringing a noticeable dip in temperatures and relief from pollution. The mercury slipped below 10°C, marking a sharp turnaround after a brief spell of warmer days earlier this week.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi is likely to witness a further drop in temperatures over the next two days, with light rain predicted for today as well. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 20°C, while the minimum may dip to 6°C, intensifying the winter chill.

Rain Brings Clear Skies and Better Air Quality

Friday’s rainfall significantly altered weather conditions across the region. Cool northerly winds swept through the capital, leading to clearer skies and a marked improvement in visibility. Air quality levels also improved, with several monitoring stations recording a drop in pollution indices due to the washout effect of rain.

Meteorologists noted that the rain activity was concentrated mainly in the morning and early afternoon, gradually subsiding by evening.

Delhi Records Wettest January Day in Two Years

Delhi witnessed its first rain of 2026, which also turned out to be the wettest January day in the last two years. IMD data shows that the highest January rainfall on record was logged on January 30, 2023, when the city received 20.4 mm of rain.

On Friday, rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm was widespread across Delhi-NCR:

• Ridge: 17.4 mm
• Palam: 14.0 mm
• Lodi Road: 13.4 mm
• Safdarjung: 13.2 mm
• Ayanagar: 11.5 mm

Most weather stations reported light to moderate rainfall between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm, after which precipitation weakened significantly.

Weather Update for Other North Indian Cities

• Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Light rain is likely in the morning, with a minimum temperature around 10°C.
• Patna (Bihar): Clear skies are expected, with the minimum temperature settling near 13°C.
• Jaipur (Rajasthan): The minimum temperature may drop to around 5°C, with partly cloudy conditions likely.

What to Expect Next

IMD officials have indicated that the temperature dip could lead to cold day conditions in isolated pockets of Delhi-NCR. Early morning shallow fog may also develop over the next few days, especially in low-lying areas. Residents have been advised to take precautions against cold weather, particularly during early morning and late-night hours.

While no severe cold wave warning has been issued yet, authorities are monitoring conditions closely as winter tightens its grip once again on north India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed the Mahayuti alliance’s decisive victory in the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections, describing it as a clear indication of the deepening bond between the people of the state and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The results, covering elections to 29 municipal corporations, have delivered a strong endorsement of the alliance’s governance model and development agenda.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi thanked the people of Maharashtra for backing what he termed the NDA’s “pro-people and good governance” agenda. He said the mandate reflected public trust in the alliance’s track record and its vision for the future.

“Thank you Maharashtra! The dynamic people of the state bless the NDA’s agenda of pro-people good governance. This is a vote to add momentum to progress and celebrate the glorious culture the state is associated with,” the prime minister wrote.

Praise for NDA workers and campaign strategy

In a separate post, PM Modi lauded the efforts of NDA karyakartas, crediting them for working tirelessly at the grassroots level and effectively communicating the alliance’s message to voters. He noted that party workers played a crucial role in highlighting development initiatives while countering what he described as misinformation spread by opposition parties.

“They talked about our alliance’s track record, highlighted our vision for the coming times and also effectively countered the lies of the Opposition. My best wishes to them,” he said.

Mahayuti’s dominant performance across civic bodies

The Mahayuti alliance registered a commanding performance in the civic polls, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the single-largest party. The BJP won over 1,300 of the 2,869 seats contested across municipal corporations, reinforcing its organisational strength in urban Maharashtra.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena finished second within the alliance, securing 394 seats. The Congress surprised many observers by finishing third overall with victories in 315 seats, indicating pockets of resilience despite recent electoral setbacks.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won 149 seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which contested independently on several seats, secured 158 victories. Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM also made notable gains with over 90 seats, while Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) won 36 seats. Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) managed to secure around 12 seats.

Political significance ahead of key elections

Although the final tally is yet to be officially declared by the Maharashtra State Election Commission, political analysts see the results as a significant morale booster for the Mahayuti government led by Devendra Fadnavis, with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as deputy chief ministers. The outcome is being viewed as an important indicator of voter sentiment ahead of future state and national-level contests.

The civic poll victory is also expected to strengthen the NDA’s narrative of political stability, development-focused governance, and organisational unity in Maharashtra’s complex political landscape.

Several Indian airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, on Thursday issued travel advisories after Iran abruptly closed its airspace, disrupting multiple international flight routes. The sudden shutdown has led to delays, rerouting, and cancellations, particularly for long-haul flights that typically pass over Iranian territory.

The development comes amid intensifying protests in Iran against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, raising serious aviation safety concerns in the region.

Air India warns of delays and cancellations

Air India was among the first carriers to alert passengers. In a post on X, the airline said flights that usually overfly Iran are now being rerouted to ensure passenger safety, which may result in longer flight times.

“Due to the emerging situation in Iran and the subsequent closure of its airspace, Air India flights are operating via alternative routes, which may lead to delays. Some flights where rerouting is not feasible are being cancelled,” the airline said.

Air India urged passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport, reiterating that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority.

IndiGo issues travel alert, offers rebooking and refunds

IndiGo also confirmed that several of its international services were impacted due to Iran’s “sudden airspace closure.”

“Our teams are working diligently to assess the situation and support affected customers by offering the best possible alternatives,” the airline said.

IndiGo added that impacted passengers would be provided options such as rebooking on alternate flights or refunds, depending on individual cases.

SpiceJet advises passengers to stay updated

SpiceJet released a similar advisory, informing travellers that some of its flights could be affected due to the closure.

“Passengers are advised to check their flight status on our website or contact our 24×7 reservation helpline for assistance,” the airline said in a statement on X.

Why Iran closed its airspace

Iran ordered the closure of its airspace to commercial aircraft early Thursday, according to a notice issued to pilots. While no official reason was provided, the restriction was initially expected to remain in effect until 7:30 am local time.

The move coincides with widespread domestic protests, heightened security measures, and growing fears of a possible US military response. Iran has previously shut its airspace during periods of conflict, including:

• The 12-day confrontation with Israel in June
• Exchanges of fire during the Israel–Hamas conflict

Airlines globally avoiding Iranian airspace

Aviation risk-monitoring platform SafeAirspace reported that most international airlines are now avoiding Iranian airspace altogether. Several carriers have already reduced or suspended services in the region.

Experts warn that airspace closures often signal potential military or security activity, including air defence operations or missile launches, which raise the risk of civilian aircraft being misidentified.

What passengers should do

• Check flight status directly with airlines before travel
• Expect longer travel times due to rerouting
• Be prepared for last-minute schedule changes or cancellations
• Opt for flexible rebooking or refunds if offered

As the situation in Iran remains volatile, airlines are expected to continue monitoring developments closely and adjust operations in line with safety advisories from international aviation authorities.